Nancy Long

INDUCTED 2010

For more than two decades, Nancy worked tirelessly to support the Board of Directors of Wuchopperen Health Service to establish the organisation as a key provider of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health in the Cairns region. During this time, she was instrumental in supporting the transition of outreach services to Innisfail (Mamu Health Service) and Mareeba (Mulungu Health Service) as well as establishing an outreach service at Atherton (Midin).

Of particular relevance was her involvement in the establishment of the Atherton clinic, which took place during her time as Operational Head of the organisation. The establishment of the Atherton clinic included continuing participation in the Atherton/ Croydon Regional Planning process, lobbying QATSIH to allocate specific funds to establish the Atherton clinic and supporting the Atherton Reference Group with the establishment of the clinic. Nancy’s commitment to this process was recognised at the 10th Anniversary of the establishment of the Midin clinic, with the placement of a plaque dedicated to the Reference Group members. Nancy’s commitment to self-determination and self-management, two key principles of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community control, is also evidenced by the growth of Wuchopperen over the years that she worked there. Through Nancy’s stewardship, Wuchopperen earned a reputation for effective delivery of comprehensive primary health services incorporating holistic care that focuses on improving the social, emotional, spiritual and physical wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Cairns region. Nancy is a strong proponent of the principles of comprehensive primary health care and continually advocates for the organisation’s services to provide holistic care that focuses on the needs of the individual, their families and the community. Wuchopperen has become the primary provider of clinical and non-clinical services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community of Cairns through the delivery of social and emotional wellbeing programs and medical services that focus on achieving good health outcomes for our community. As a previous long-standing executive member of staff, Nancy was instrumental in identifying and implementing organisational strategies to improve governance and service delivery that meets the needs of funding bodies and community. Nancy retired from Wuchopperen Health Service in 2015, and currently holds a position on the Board of the Cairns and Hinterland HHS.